Books Feb 22, 2020
‘33⅓ Japan’ has nerdy but accessible tales of albums and artists
by Jordan Allen
With the "33⅓ Japan" series, music aficionados bring classic Japanese albums and artists to life in nerdy, but accessible, prose.
Stage Feb 13, 2020
Japanese students take idol worship to a whole new level
by Marco Christian
Take a look at the world of Unidol, in which teams of Japanese university students emulate the moves of pop groups in a battle to be the greatest idol copy dance club.
National Feb 3, 2020
Japan firms limit customer contact, aiming to prevent spread of deadly coronavirus
A number of companies across Japan have disclosed in turn moves to try and prevent further spread of 2019-nCoV, the new coronavirus that originated in China, with the postponement of celebrity meet-and-greet events and suspension of services such as makeup application at cosmetics stores. Oriental ...
National / Media | BIG IN JAPAN Jan 18, 2020
Japan's news outlets take one step backward before moving forward
by Mark Schreiber
Before going forward into the new year, an extra edition of Shukan Shincho (with a Jan. 27 publication date) flashed back in time to track down author Ben Goto. Now a spry 89 years old, Goto achieved instant fame with a 1973 publication titled ...
Music Nov 15, 2019
Da Pump, Arashi, Twice among lineup for 70th 'Kohaku Uta Gassen' music show
by Kalynn Erickson
Alongside perennials will be acts making their first appearances on the music battle show, such as Foorin, King Gnu and Kis-My-Ft2
Music | 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW Nov 15, 2019
Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan
by Patrick St. Michel
Do you know the songs? "Heavy Rotation," "Gingham Check," "Ponytail to Shushu" .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
Film Jun 26, 2019
Kiyoshi Kurosawa: Filming and acting outside your comfort zone
by Mark Schilling
When Japanese directors of a certain age and status film abroad, they usually head for developed countries, not developing ones. Although, to be fair, their choice of foreign locales often comes down to box-office calculations. Japanese audiences enjoy seeing famous European sites on the ...
Film / Reviews Jun 12, 2019
'To the Ends of the Earth': Tough times for travel reporting
by Mark Schilling
Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Atsuko Maeda make an odd couple: The former is best known abroad as a master of horror, starting with his 1997 international breakthrough "Cure," while the latter was a star of idol-pop group AKB48, but has since gone on to a ...
Music | Sound Off May 30, 2019
Rino Sashihara: Can one 'idol' beat the system?
by Patrick St. Michel
An idol group such as AKB48 is designed for members to be easily replaced. The performers existing in these environments constantly get shuffled around and eventually "graduate" — a term used for when they leave. Fans might become attached to a specific member and ...
National / Crime & Legal May 21, 2019
Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill member of AKB48 spin-off group
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill a member of a sister group of the popular AKB48 girl band, police said. Kazuki Domoto was arrested Monday for threatening Yuka Ogino, a member of NGT48 based in the city of Niigata, by ...
Entertainment News May 2, 2019
Ex-AKB48 idol Minami Takahashi gets married on Day One of Japan's Reiwa Era
Singer and TV personality Minami Takahashi, a former member of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, ushered in the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and the Reiwa Era by getting married on Wednesday, her agency said. "I decided to move forward with a new family at the ...
Music | Sound Off Apr 4, 2019
A look at some of Japan's lesser-known idol-pop players
by Christopher Kunody
I made my first trip to Japan just over 10 years ago to see concerts by Morning Musume and AKB48, two of the country's biggest idol-pop groups this century. What struck me most about the experience was the camaraderie among the fans, it was ...